John Smith invested all her savings in the Fishbury company, which guaranteed her an unprecedented income. But six months later, the company disappeared along with the clients' money. Soon, John Smith received a call from an unknown number, introduced herself as employees of a law firm that specializes in the return of deposits. For a "small" commission of $ 300, they promised to find and return the money. But as soon as the pensioner paid for the company's services, her employees stopped communicating.
Fraudsters quite often target people who have already fallen for the bait of other cheaters. The calculation is simple: those who were gullible in the past may again succumb to persuasion. As a result, people not only do not receive help, but also lose money again. Let's figure out how to recognize deceivers.
What "services" do the scammers offer?
Most often, pseudo-lawyers "take up" such cases, in which in reality only the police and the court can help. They often propose solutions to problems in ways that are contrary to the law. Below is a list of the most common pseudo-lawyers' promises.
"We will quickly return the money invested in financial pyramids"
Pseudo-lawyers often prey on injured depositors. They promise to return the lost money for a commission. Their remuneration usually ranges from $ 300 to $ 1000, depending on the speed of resolving the issue. In fact, these are fly-by-night firms that do not do any real work. Fraudsters disappear as soon as they receive money from defrauded depositors.
It is almost never possible to return at least part of the money invested in financial pyramids. Even real lawyers are unlikely to help out: at best, they will help to draw up claims and collect documents for the court.
If the pyramid in which you invested money is included in the register of the Fund for the Protection of the Rights of Investors and Shareholders, you can receive compensation from public funds. To do this, you need to contact the Fund yourself. For more information on how to act correctly, read the text "What to do if you become a victim of a financial pyramid".
"We will help to return the money lost in the securities market"
On the Internet, you can find announcements of various organizations that promise to help return money for shares in liquidated joint-stock companies (JSC). In fact, in most cases this is impossible and even contrary to the law. The liquidated company is not required to return the investment to its shareholders. In some cases, she may have legal successors, and it should be addressed to them.
Investments in stocks, bonds and other stock market instruments are not insured by the state. There is always a danger of losing your invested money. Read more about the financial risks of investing in securities in our text "How not to joke with money, or Harmful advice to an investor".
If someone offers to return money that you unsuccessfully invested in securities, you are definitely dealing with a scammer.
"We return debts on shares, dividends, bills"
Some pseudo-lawyers offer to help shareholders receive dividends that, for whatever reason, were not paid to him several years ago. The payment for such a service usually starts from 15 thousand rubles.
At the same time, the fraudsters are silent that, according to the law, a shareholder has only three years to apply for dividends that he did not receive. Joint-stock companies can indicate in their charter even longer periods, but they should not exceed five years.
Therefore, it is pointless to pay for such "services". If more than five years have passed, then lawyers will no longer help. And if the deadline has not yet been missed, then their services are again not required. It is enough to send an official letter from yourself as a shareholder to the registrar or depositary and indicate in it an account for the payment of income on securities.
"We will help increase your pension"
Pensioners often become victims of fraudsters. The pseudo-lawyers offer them “help” in preparing documents “for registration of a pension supplement” or “compensation from the Pension Fund”. Of course, this is a deception - neither one nor the other is provided for by law.
"We will help you find deposits"
After the death of a person, his heirs can receive his deposits, money in accounts and other financial assets. But how do you know what the deceased owned? Many are looking for an answer on the Internet, and then organizations come to the rescue, promising to find the testator's deposits.
It is important to remember that information about a person's accounts, deposits and securities is confidential information. Banks and other financial organizations have the right to disclose data on the property of deceased clients only to those whom the deceased indicated in his inheritance order during his lifetime, and to notary offices that conduct inheritance business.
Lawyers who promise to track down the deposits and other assets of the deceased are scammers.
"We will prepare appeals to government agencies"
Some companies promise to send appeals to government agencies for money, although anyone has the right to do this for free. In addition, all government agencies now have Internet receptions, where everyone can send a request or complaint.
How do pseudo-lawyers attract clients?
Cheaters use proven techniques:
Sometimes they resort to email newsletters and even street ads.
The main thesis of their messages is “100% result”. People lose their vigilance and succumb to bright slogans, because the desire to get their money back sometimes overshadows the ability to sensibly evaluate information.
Often, fraudsters choose names similar to the names of official structures, for example: "Committee for the Protection of Shareholders", "Center for the Protection of the Rights of Deceived Investors". They often refer to cooperation with real organizations: “our partners are OFAS, the Bank, “we work with the support of the government”. Although the official bodies have nothing to do with them.
Is it possible to return the money that has already been paid to the pseudo-lawyers?
The likelihood is low. Usually scammers manage to quickly collect money and hide. But it's worth a try.
Collect as much information as possible: take screenshots of the organization's website, correspondence with its employees, find confirmation of payment, the details by which you transferred money. And contact the police. Most likely, your case is not an isolated one, and your application will increase the chances of finding criminals faster.
If the organization to which you transferred the money still exists, you can sue it.
Where to go if you need the help of a qualified lawyer?
Some people are eligible for state-funded legal assistance. For example, families with incomes below the subsistence level, disabled people of groups I and II, veterans and other beneficiaries. On the website of the Ministry of Justice, you can find an official list of free legal aid centers in every region.
Everyone else must pay for the services of lawyers on their own, but many law firms are ready to conduct the first consultation free of charge. Therefore, there is no need to rush to choose specialists.
Before concluding an agreement with a law firm and paying for its services, follow a few steps:
For more information about where to complain in case of deception, read the text "What to do if your rights are violated".
Fraudsters quite often target people who have already fallen for the bait of other cheaters. The calculation is simple: those who were gullible in the past may again succumb to persuasion. As a result, people not only do not receive help, but also lose money again. Let's figure out how to recognize deceivers.
What "services" do the scammers offer?
Most often, pseudo-lawyers "take up" such cases, in which in reality only the police and the court can help. They often propose solutions to problems in ways that are contrary to the law. Below is a list of the most common pseudo-lawyers' promises.
"We will quickly return the money invested in financial pyramids"
Pseudo-lawyers often prey on injured depositors. They promise to return the lost money for a commission. Their remuneration usually ranges from $ 300 to $ 1000, depending on the speed of resolving the issue. In fact, these are fly-by-night firms that do not do any real work. Fraudsters disappear as soon as they receive money from defrauded depositors.
It is almost never possible to return at least part of the money invested in financial pyramids. Even real lawyers are unlikely to help out: at best, they will help to draw up claims and collect documents for the court.
If the pyramid in which you invested money is included in the register of the Fund for the Protection of the Rights of Investors and Shareholders, you can receive compensation from public funds. To do this, you need to contact the Fund yourself. For more information on how to act correctly, read the text "What to do if you become a victim of a financial pyramid".
"We will help to return the money lost in the securities market"
On the Internet, you can find announcements of various organizations that promise to help return money for shares in liquidated joint-stock companies (JSC). In fact, in most cases this is impossible and even contrary to the law. The liquidated company is not required to return the investment to its shareholders. In some cases, she may have legal successors, and it should be addressed to them.
Investments in stocks, bonds and other stock market instruments are not insured by the state. There is always a danger of losing your invested money. Read more about the financial risks of investing in securities in our text "How not to joke with money, or Harmful advice to an investor".
If someone offers to return money that you unsuccessfully invested in securities, you are definitely dealing with a scammer.
"We return debts on shares, dividends, bills"
Some pseudo-lawyers offer to help shareholders receive dividends that, for whatever reason, were not paid to him several years ago. The payment for such a service usually starts from 15 thousand rubles.
At the same time, the fraudsters are silent that, according to the law, a shareholder has only three years to apply for dividends that he did not receive. Joint-stock companies can indicate in their charter even longer periods, but they should not exceed five years.
Therefore, it is pointless to pay for such "services". If more than five years have passed, then lawyers will no longer help. And if the deadline has not yet been missed, then their services are again not required. It is enough to send an official letter from yourself as a shareholder to the registrar or depositary and indicate in it an account for the payment of income on securities.
"We will help increase your pension"
Pensioners often become victims of fraudsters. The pseudo-lawyers offer them “help” in preparing documents “for registration of a pension supplement” or “compensation from the Pension Fund”. Of course, this is a deception - neither one nor the other is provided for by law.
"We will help you find deposits"
After the death of a person, his heirs can receive his deposits, money in accounts and other financial assets. But how do you know what the deceased owned? Many are looking for an answer on the Internet, and then organizations come to the rescue, promising to find the testator's deposits.
It is important to remember that information about a person's accounts, deposits and securities is confidential information. Banks and other financial organizations have the right to disclose data on the property of deceased clients only to those whom the deceased indicated in his inheritance order during his lifetime, and to notary offices that conduct inheritance business.
Lawyers who promise to track down the deposits and other assets of the deceased are scammers.
"We will prepare appeals to government agencies"
Some companies promise to send appeals to government agencies for money, although anyone has the right to do this for free. In addition, all government agencies now have Internet receptions, where everyone can send a request or complaint.
How do pseudo-lawyers attract clients?
Cheaters use proven techniques:
- Advertise themselves aggressively. This can be advertising on the Internet: in search engines, banner ads and social networks. Fraudsters almost always act in a very professional manner. They set up contextual advertising specifically for those users who were looking for news about the collapsed pyramid.
Sometimes they resort to email newsletters and even street ads.
The main thesis of their messages is “100% result”. People lose their vigilance and succumb to bright slogans, because the desire to get their money back sometimes overshadows the ability to sensibly evaluate information.
- They fill their own worth. The prices for the services of pseudo-lawyers are often grossly overpriced against the background of the average cost of legal services. Scammers use a marketing ploy: people are used to the fact that an exclusive product or service is expensive. And they convince clients that the high price is justified, because they "solve especially difficult", "non-standard issues."
- They lie about belonging to government agencies. Fraudsters try to instill confidence in all ways, so they can hide behind state organizations and illegally use their symbols.
Often, fraudsters choose names similar to the names of official structures, for example: "Committee for the Protection of Shareholders", "Center for the Protection of the Rights of Deceived Investors". They often refer to cooperation with real organizations: “our partners are OFAS, the Bank, “we work with the support of the government”. Although the official bodies have nothing to do with them.
Is it possible to return the money that has already been paid to the pseudo-lawyers?
The likelihood is low. Usually scammers manage to quickly collect money and hide. But it's worth a try.
Collect as much information as possible: take screenshots of the organization's website, correspondence with its employees, find confirmation of payment, the details by which you transferred money. And contact the police. Most likely, your case is not an isolated one, and your application will increase the chances of finding criminals faster.
If the organization to which you transferred the money still exists, you can sue it.
Where to go if you need the help of a qualified lawyer?
Some people are eligible for state-funded legal assistance. For example, families with incomes below the subsistence level, disabled people of groups I and II, veterans and other beneficiaries. On the website of the Ministry of Justice, you can find an official list of free legal aid centers in every region.
Everyone else must pay for the services of lawyers on their own, but many law firms are ready to conduct the first consultation free of charge. Therefore, there is no need to rush to choose specialists.
Before concluding an agreement with a law firm and paying for its services, follow a few steps:
- Prepare to meet with experts. Study the answers to your question in various open sources, read the laws. Do not forget about your right to contact the relevant ministries and the Bank for clarification of official documents.
- Analyze reviews of legal and consulting companies on independent sites. Do not trust only beautiful ads.
- Go through preliminary consultations in two or three companies. Do not enter into an agreement with the first organization you contact. Even if her staff speaks very convincingly or you like the office.
- Carefully study the contract you are about to sign. Do not rush, ask for clarification of each incomprehensible point.
- Make sure that the document indicates not only the total cost of the contract, but also lists the prices of each service.
- Do not sign acts of acceptance and transfer of services rendered if the company has not yet fulfilled its obligations to you.
- Always ask for proof of payment and keep them.
For more information about where to complain in case of deception, read the text "What to do if your rights are violated".
